GILAS Pilipinas team manager Gabby Cui confirmed Kiefer Ravena has been included in the national team training pool to the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Cui said Ravena’s name was submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) last week shortly after it became official that veteran guard Jayson Castro would be miss out on the biennial meet due to a muscle strain.
The Gilas official said he was told that names can still be submitted for the training pool as long as the final 12-man roster has not been formally named.
“We were told (by Phisgoc) na puwede pa basta hindi pa officially submitted yung final 12 lineup,” said Cui after Gilas Pilipinas’ tune-up match against Alab Pilipinas Monday at the Meralco gym.
Ravena suited up for Gilas at the Fiba World Cup at the end of his 18-month doping suspension and is enjoying fine form with NLEX in the PBA Governors Cup.
He watched Gilas' tuneup against Alab Pilipinas on Monday night on the invitation of national coach Tim Cone.
“I watched the game and tried to be with them as much as I can in terms of mentally present and mentally prepared para pagdating ng practice hindi na sila masyadong mag-a-adjust pagdating sa akin, ako na lang,” he added.
Ravena said he’ll officially start practicing with the team by next week.
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